Wellness in San Diego: Food, Movement, Spirituality + Wellbeing

Tired of the media portraying health and wellness as exclusive to the young? We are too! In this episode, we challenge the narrative and get real about thriving in our later years. This week's guest, Kathleen Rafaat, is a force of nature – a meditation, yoga, and breathwork instructor, Ayurvedic counselor, cancer survivor, former Iron Man triathlete, and even a 2023 New York Fashion Week model. An...

This week we dive deep into reproductive health and fertility awareness with holistic reproductive health expert and advocate, Vienna Farlow.  Vienna discusses how to track your menstrual cycle using basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and other signs to: Plan a pregnancy:  Learn how to identify your fertile window and optimize your chances of conception. Prevent pregnancy naturally: Discover...

This week we're joined by LaToya Mckelvin, founder of Movement Matters Collective in South Park San Diego. LaToya shares her journey of building a health and wellness organization specializing in mindful movement, including Pilates, yoga, and dance. In this episode, you'll: Discover the secrets behind cultivating a strong and thriving community in just three years. Explore the intentional steps La...

Feeling disconnected from your cultural heritage and its spiritual practices? This week we're joined by Dr Madeline Ofina, psychologist / medium / community educator, who empowers individuals to reconnect with their ancestral traditions. Dr Madeline and Marta delve into: The impacts of colonization on traditional wellness practices and the prevalence of appropration with the spiritual community Pr...

Craving a vacation that nourishes your mind, body, and soul? Look no further than La Jolla, California!  In this episode, we'll guide you through crafting your perfect wellness staycation or weekend getaway to the jewel of San Diego. Listen in as we share:  La Jolla wellness activities: Local yoga studios, spa recs, beach activities + more. Top foodie recs: We share our top cafe pics, vegan-friend...

Join us as we welcome Karenna Soto, a communication expert and your guide to expressing yourself with clarity and confidence, even in the toughest situations. In this episode, Karenna Soto will share her insights on: Building healthy relationships through open communication:  Learn how to foster genuine connections in both your personal and professional life through effective communication strateg...

This week Marta chats with Michele Mignogna, a life + soul purpose coach who empowers individuals navigating major life changes. Feeling stuck in a career rut? Questioning your relationships? Wondering what your true calling is? Michele uses several techniques including the powerful tool of Human Design, a unique system based on your birthdate, to reveal your energetic blueprint and guide you towa...

What a wild week. San Diego was hit hard by severe flash flooding due to heavy rainfall (the fourth-wettest day recorded in San Diego history) and many homeowners and local businesses suffered devastating losses. Tune in to hear about more about these local businesses and how you can get them back up and running with your support! Destination Baby Co (Mission Valley warehouse): https://www.gofundm...

This week, intuitive medium and spiritual strategist, Darci Jean Brown joins to talk about exploring the depths of our intuition and its power to guide you toward your purpose.  Whether you're just starting your spiritual journey or looking to deepen your connection to your inner self, Darci's practical wisdom and clarity combined with her infectious enthusiasm will help you tap into your inner kn...

This week we're unlocking the secrets of wellness business success with Liberty Bernal, a force of nature who built, scaled, and sold the Liberty Fitness franchise in her early twenties. Her entrepreneurial spirit doesn't stop there – Liberty's owned and operated five gyms, advised countless companies on launch and growth, and now leads the charge as managing partner of Pure Barre San Diego. Prepa...

Feeling like your entrepreneurial journey is on autopilot, fueled by endless to-do lists and that gnawing feeling you're not quite living your truth? You're not alone. In this week's episode, we're joined by Jaden Hummel, a sought-after alignment coach who empowers entrepreneurs to ditch the hustle and design lives that are aligned with their values, passions, and purpose. Tune in as we dive deep...

There is a new pro team coming to San Diego – the San Diego Mojo pro volleyball team! The Mojo will kick off the inaugural season of the new Pro Volleyball League in February at the Viejas Arena. Joining us this week is San Diego Mojo's head coach, Tayyiba Haneef-Park, an alumni of Long Beach State volleyball and a two-time Olympic silver medalist. Coach Tayyiba takes us through her incredible jou...

Join us as we explore a simple but ancient practice that has transcended time and culture, and has profound effects on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being: breathwork. This week's guest, Tsvetelina (Chechi) Mitseva, a yoga teacher, reiki healer and certified therapeutic breathwork practitioner, guides us through the science behind conscious breathing and its immediate impact on our nerv...

Join us as we sit down with the extraordinary Chef Tara Middleton, a classically trained chef who not only crafts intentional sensorial experiences with food but has triumphed over her own health challenges in the process. Chef Tara opens up about how she navigated her own health challenges while living abroad, discovered a new way of working with food and turned this new-found knowledge into a so...

What happens after life? What will await us? Some among us here on Earth might have a few answers -- those who have had a Near Death Experience. At the age of 12, Ellen Wier fell into a coma after being kicked in the head by a horse. During her Near Death Experience (NDE), she traveled through tremendous impactful, spiritual lessons and was drawn back to her body by music. She awoke with a mission...

In this episode, we unravel the spiritual side of Chinese Medicine, a time-honored healing system that extends far beyond the physical realm. Dr. Allison Blacutt, a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, walks us through the ancient spiritual practices + principles that lost their importance when medicine became standardized in China in the 1950s.  Our conversation dives in to Daoism, spiritu...

This week we dive into the world of Ayurvedic skincare with a focus on a brand that brings the age-old secrets of this holistic practice to your daily beauty routine. Brandy Searcy, a chemical engineer with years of experience in formulation development, is a pioneer in combining the ancient principles of Ayurveda with modern skincare science. Her drive to find a natural, holistic solution for her...

In 2022 Aspen Arora found herself being medically evacuated during active duty in the Middle East. Upon arriving in San Diego, she was told it would be 6-8 weeks before she could get an intake appointment. Thankfully, she survived. During those weeks, however, Aspen was informed of the passing of at least 10 of her active duty loved ones. And the death notifications kept coming. She learned that m...

Jasmine, Erika + Candace are the Trinity Oracles, three San Diego sisters who have banded together to use their unique psychic abilities to read for clients, teach oracle card courses and are well-loved for their accurate celebrity predictions on their YouTube channel. In this episode, the Trinity Oracles share how they've developed their psychic gifts since childhood, the importance of choosing t...

Join us  as we delve into the joys and challenges of motherhood with our incredible guest, Mariela De Santiago. A devoted mother, community builder, and advocate for empowering moms, Mariela shares her transformative journey of finding balance in motherhood while building a thriving community for fellow moms via Carlsbad Mom Walks and her parenting podcast, Mama Wears Athleisure. In this heartwarm...

How do we really begin to love ourselves? That's a question Shannon Keating asked herself one day after being worn down by her own struggles with her self-worth, healing from an eating disorder and finding her path as a young woman in the world.  Shannon has made it her life's mission to learn how to love herself and teach other young women to do the same through her work as a life coach, human de...

This week we delve into the fascinating world of design, exploring the ways in which our surroundings can influence our physical, mental, and emotional health. Steffi Reyes Thomas, a holistic interior designer + landscape architect, joins us to share the secrets to creating environments that promote balance, inspiration, and a sense of serenity. We explore how proper lighting design can regulate o...

This week we dive into the world of yoga studio management and explore the vital role of collaboration in fostering growth and cultivating a thriving community. Samara Goldberg, a dedicated studio manager at Spirit Yoga + Spirit Barre in PB, sheds light on the transformative power of collaboration when it comes to expanding and nurturing a yoga studio. Samara shares success stories of strategic pa...

This week we delve into the world of intentional event planning + community building with Alexandria Ott, the CEO of Chrome City Creative Studio, creator of The Blank Table pop-up dinners, founder of San Diego's Drag Queen Story Hour and the cohost of San Diego Magazine's Not a Parenting Podcast.  Alex has truly mastered the art of using events as a catalyst for building and strengthening communit...

Get ready to embark on a mind-expanding journey as we explore the cutting-edge techniques and revolutionary insights that are reshaping our understanding of human potential and well-being. Kevin Russell is an author and energetic intuitive, and has dedicated his life to unraveling the mysteries of the energetic field and harnessing its power for human transformation. In this week's episode, Kevin...